EU to create permanent rescEU fleet for firefighting

The European Union has initiated the production of twelve amphibious firefighting planes to form part of the permanent rescEU fleet.

This decision follows agreements signed between several EU Member States and the Canadian Commercial Corporation.

As reported by the European Union, these aircraft will be funded by the European Commission and will play a key role in crisis response efforts to combat forest fires across Europe.

The new fleet is expected to be available by 2027 and will support Member States in rapidly responding to wildfire emergencies.

This production is part of the EU’s broader strategy to establish a permanent rescEU firefighting fleet.

Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain will host the aircraft, which will provide critical support during severe wildfires.

In addition, ten more firefighting planes are being procured by Member States to strengthen their national firefighting capabilities.

European Commission backs firefighting fleet

The European Commission has taken a leading role in the financing and establishment of this fleet.

Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič commented on the initiative, stating: “This is a historic moment in European civil protection in this age of climate crisis.”

Lenarčič emphasised the need for enhanced firefighting capacities as wildfire seasons become more intense and less predictable.

He added: “Thanks to our collaboration, we are well on track with the timeline set by the European Commission to acquire a new, permanent fleet of firefighting aircraft.”

This announcement follows coordinated efforts between the Commission and EU Member States to expedite the acquisition of firefighting planes.

The initial batch of planes is expected to be delivered by 2027, with helicopters arriving in 2026.

EU Civil Protection Mechanism strengthens its capacity

The establishment of this fleet is part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which was created to ensure a coordinated pan-European response to emergencies.

The mechanism includes a European reserve of firefighting resources, which is funded entirely by the EU.

Since 2019, the rescEU reserve has been expanded to include firefighting planes and helicopters to address the growing threat of wildfires exacerbated by climate change.

The planes will be distributed among six EU countries that have seen increasing fire risks due to changing environmental conditions.

The permanent rescEU fleet will enable a quicker and more coordinated response across the continent during severe wildfire events.

Wildfire response preparedness boosted by national fleets

In addition to the new rescEU fleet, EU Member States are also increasing their national firefighting capacities.

Ten additional planes are being purchased by individual countries to further bolster their national fleets.

This expansion is a response to the rising incidence of wildfires in Europe, which have become a continent-wide concern due to climate change.

The reinforced national fleets and the establishment of the rescEU fleet will ensure that Member States are better equipped to face future wildfires.

These efforts are a part of the EU’s ongoing strategy to address the challenges posed by climate change and to protect European citizens from the increasing risks of natural disasters.

EU begins production of permanent firefighting fleet: summary

The European Union has launched the production of twelve amphibious firefighting planes to be part of the permanent rescEU fleet.

The planes are funded by the European Commission and will be deployed across six EU Member States—Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

The first delivery is expected in 2027.

The initiative is part of the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, which aims to enhance coordinated firefighting response across the continent.

Alongside the EU-funded planes, Member States are also acquiring ten additional aircraft to strengthen their national fleets.